Bushelow steps down from U-CF school board

After a reception to honor departing board member Eileen Bushelow, the Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board got down to paying some big bills on May 19.

School district superintendent John Sanville thanked Bushelow for her years of service on the board, both as a member and as president. “Eileen's tenure on the board has been marked by goals set and met, and an adept handling of sometimes difficult situations,” he said. His praise was echoed by each board member. Bushelow's term on the board ends on May 28. Her replacement is being solicited from members of the community.

Sanville announced that Thomas Tobin has taken over as interim principal at Chadds Ford Elementary School after the departure of former principal Mark Ransford last month. Tobin will fill the position until June 20. A permanent replacement will be selected over the summer. Also joining the district is Leah Reider, who has been appointed as director of special education. “Although your job description is for eight hours a day, I promise you that it will be more than that,” Sanville told Reider, who was in the audience. Reider laughed and thanked the board and Sanville for her new position, which has a salary of $125,000 per year.

Three parents addressed the board about the early success of the rowing team at Unionville High School. Glen Best of East Marlborough said 34 members of the UHS rowing club competed in six regattas this spring, bringing home 32 medals in various events. The board approved the club in February, but parents spoke of how the discipline of the sport has already transformed their teens, and they thanked the board for clearing the way for the formation of the club.

The board approved some much-needed repairs at the meeting. A new fire alarm system for Hillendale Elementary School will cost $90,850. It replaces a system that is out of date and inefficient. Replacement lighting fixtures are necessary at Patton Middle School, since the type of bulbs the fixtures require are no longer being manufactured. The cost of replacement is $421,261, and will result in an energy savings when more efficient lighting is installed.

The board approved an agreement with a company called Constellation to purchase electricity for district schools and buildings at a cost of six cents per kilowatt hour, a savings of two cents per kilowatt hour over the current plan.

Outdated and inefficient kitchen equipment for Hillendale Elementary School will be replaced at a cost of $72,634, and will be paid for by the cafeteria fund. Routine expenditures for supplies for the 2014-15 school year were also approved, amounting to just over $126,000.

In her final comments to the board, Bushelow thanked the other board members and the community. “I can't believe it's been 10 years that I've been part of the Unionville-Chadds Ford community,” she said. “It's been an honor to work with some great people. This is a great place to live and a great place for our children to learn.”

Like what you're reading? Subscribe to Chester County's free newsletter to catch every headline